“It is part of the Catholic tradition and the faith to be resisting.”
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Police arrested dozens of protesters, including many Roman Catholic nuns, at a rally Thursday (July 18) opposing the Trump administration’s treatment of immigrant children along the Southern border, treatment that organizers of the demonstration said amounted to atrocities.
Dozens of Roman Catholic protesters are lined up to arrest at the U.S. Capitol on July 18, 2019. RNS photo by Jack Jenkins
“Officials with the advocacy groups Faith in Public Life and Faith in Action reported that 70 people were arrested after hundreds of demonstrators who had gathered on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol to sing hymns and wave signs with slogans such as “Everyone is sacred” and “Honor the Children: End child detention” crossed the street to enter the Russell Senate Office Building’s rotunda.
Some of the demonstrators stopped to lay down on the rotunda floor in the shape of a cross. They chanted the Hail Mary prayer several times while holding images of what organizers said were immigrant children who have died in U.S. custody.”
WASHINGTON - Today inside the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda, 70 Catholic leaders locked arms in an act of nonviolent civil disobedience, in an effort to put pressure on Congress and the presidential administration to end the immoral and inhumane practice of detaining immigrant children.
The Catholic Day of Action for Immigrant Children brought together more than 200 Catholic sisters, priests, brothers and lay Catholic advocates representing nearly 20 national organizations who sang, prayed, and chanted as they demanded an end to the immoral and inhumane practice of detaining immigrant children. This action is the beginning of a campaign in which Catholic leaders are increasing their willingness to take significant risks as an act of faithful resistance.
Sr. Carol Zinn, SSJ, Executive Director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious:
“Catholic sisters have a long history with immigrant communities. We have seen the pain, suffering, fear, and trauma firsthand. In recent months, as the humanitarian crisis has escalated, we have joined the tens of thousands who are outraged at the horrific situation at our southern border. Over 1000 Catholic sisters have spent time ministering to those in need and have donated almost $1 million to help support the care of those seeking safety, freedom, security and a better life for their families. We are here today because of our faith. The Gospel commands, and the values of our homeland demand, that we act.”
Fr. Joe Nangle, former Co-Director of Franciscan Mission Service:
“Our country was born in the darkness of what we now call original sin. And we now, some 200 plus years later, had thought that we had begun to overcome these sins. However, in these days, Donald Trump is dragging us back to those evil times, with a combination of irrational fears, hatred of people not like him, and sheer cruelty. What is almost as evil, is so-called Christians support and applaud and enable this descent into a new dark age in America. We are speaking about the evidence for this and these actions today. We are particularly citing the dishumanity taking place, even as we speak, at our southern borders. This is why we call on our millions of fellow Catholic sisters and brothers, particularly our bishops, to join in the struggle for the soul of America.”
You can also recap the day’s tweets by reading the #CatholicsAgainstDetention hashtag on Twitter.
@IGsolidarityNET ED @Chris___Kerr is with hundreds of #Catholic leaders at the #CatholicDayofAction with #Immigrant Children in Washington, DC. pic.twitter.com/kn1FEZ8KLR
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) July 18, 2019